Dimensions of marital conflict and children's social problem-solving skills

Marital conflict is negatively linked with children's emotional and behavioral outcomes. In a study it was hypothesized that parents reporting frequent conflict and using aggressive tactics have children who are less effective at social problem solving, and parents reporting less conflict and using reasoning tactics, will have children who are more able to solve social problems. Children's perceptions of marital conflict were also examined. The study provides strong support for proposed underlying processes. Children's perceptions of marital conflict were not found to be linked with their skills in social problem solving.